All right, who doesn’t love chocolate? Aside from dogs (it’s toxic!), chocolate has proven one of the most beloved creations on the planet Earth. It tastes delicious, has well-documented antioxidant properties, is surprisingly good for your skin and can go with just about anything. Whether it’s baking chocolate for a birthday cake, chocolate truffles for a loved one or your favorite candy bar when you’re down, gourmet chocolates have a special places in everybody’s hearts (but seriously, don’t feed any to your dog). Let’s take a look at gourmet chocolates and the business that has kept the world turning for centuries!
Where Did Chocolate Come From, Anyway?
Let’s start off with the elephant in the room: were gourmet chocolates truly descended from the heavens or not? Believe it or not, divine origin was actually considered at one point in human history. Chocolate first came in the form of hot chocolate, used in ceremonial rites as well as everyday life back in Mayan civilizations. It wasn’t until the relatively recent 16th century did cocoa beans and all their different iterations find their way to Western shores. Originally dedicated to the upper class, it didn’t become part of the mainstream until many decades later. Additives, such as vanilla and sugar, are relatively recent and many still enjoy the naturally bitter and tart properties of chocolate.
How Has Chocolate Been Implemented Today?
From powerful ceremonial rites to wealthy intrigue, chocolate has gone through quite a few variations in its long history. Nowadays it’s considered one of the most popular desserts and is enjoyed by people of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds. Contrary to popular belief, chocolate is not naturally sweet! It is naturally rather bitter and needs to be supplemented with anything from vanilla to milk to give it the creamy and sweet consistency we’re so familiar with. It’s a popular ingredient in many sectors and has given rise to some of the most famous desserts as we know it — chocolate fondue fountains, chocolate cake, hot chocolate, your average candy bar, you name it! A single cocoa tree can produce over 6,000 flowers per year, so thankfully it’s highly unlikely we’ll run out any time soon.
Where Does Chocolate See The Most Business?
Did you know the United States alone accounts for at least 20% of the world’s chocolate consumption? Stand aside, baseball and apple pie — there’s a new competitor in town! When it comes to net cocoa imports, the United States still stands tall as the world leader and shows no signs of being toppled yet. The average Brit or German citizen will eat an average of 24 pounds of chocolate per year, however, even beating out their significant seafood industry. We can’t forget about holidays, of course, as over 90 million pounds of chocolate are purchased every Halloween. Christmas and Valentine’s Day are also popular days for gourmet chocolates!
Where Do I Get Good Chocolate?
While chocolate is pretty easy to find, gourmet chocolates go the extra mile to give any special occasion or person the class and decadence they deserve. There are many organic dark chocolate and baking chocolate suppliers in the United States alone, working night and day to provide their customers with the highest quality stock around. You can even buy in bulk, to ensure that your demand is met in full and for an affordable price. Next time you’re planning a wedding or throwing a birthday party, consider looking at chocolate wholesale businesses and see if you can’t go the extra mile. After all chocolate has done for us, it’s only polite to return the favor!
